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A review by vcoulter
This Too Shall Last: Finding Grace When Suffering Lingers by K.J. Ramsey
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
2.5
I pretty much only write reviews when I want to explain more than x/5 could tell you.
I wanted to love this book. I know that I am from a different (more liberal) Christian tradition than the author and I am willing to suspend some judgement knowing I’m a little outside the target audience. On the other hand, I’ve lived with chronic illness my whole life. I’m collecting diagnoses and struggling with how I view my value when I can’t fit in to the perfect mold for our society with my shitty pancreas and thyroid, my shit immune system, my unexplainable aches and pains.
There were not just sentences but whole paragraphs where tears would spring to my eyes because I felt seen. And then, just as it felt like we were going to hit the real Truth of the matter, we would fall back into platitudes and paraphrased bible verses. And I get it. I get how hard it is to be vulnerable about these things. I get how hard it is to even put words on the unspeakable traumas so many people (including myself) experience. But it feels like a moment where even silence would be better than hiding.
I appreciate the reminders that God loves even my broken body. But when we’re right at the cliff, I want someone to hold my hand and jump with me, instead of reassuring me that I could jump safely. And if not that, then someone who would witness my fall. And all I could feel was the backing away from the real truth. I know it’s a book and my projection, but I was still left disappointed.
Everything Happens for a Reason had the same general vibe but with the added benefit of feeling like the author was actually jumping with me. I am not sure the difference, but it’s there. And made this book a slog despite the sprinkles of connection.
I wanted to love this book. I know that I am from a different (more liberal) Christian tradition than the author and I am willing to suspend some judgement knowing I’m a little outside the target audience. On the other hand, I’ve lived with chronic illness my whole life. I’m collecting diagnoses and struggling with how I view my value when I can’t fit in to the perfect mold for our society with my shitty pancreas and thyroid, my shit immune system, my unexplainable aches and pains.
There were not just sentences but whole paragraphs where tears would spring to my eyes because I felt seen. And then, just as it felt like we were going to hit the real Truth of the matter, we would fall back into platitudes and paraphrased bible verses. And I get it. I get how hard it is to be vulnerable about these things. I get how hard it is to even put words on the unspeakable traumas so many people (including myself) experience. But it feels like a moment where even silence would be better than hiding.
I appreciate the reminders that God loves even my broken body. But when we’re right at the cliff, I want someone to hold my hand and jump with me, instead of reassuring me that I could jump safely. And if not that, then someone who would witness my fall. And all I could feel was the backing away from the real truth. I know it’s a book and my projection, but I was still left disappointed.
Everything Happens for a Reason had the same general vibe but with the added benefit of feeling like the author was actually jumping with me. I am not sure the difference, but it’s there. And made this book a slog despite the sprinkles of connection.